New Puppy Guide for French Bulldogs

Congratulations on your new French Bulldog! Bringing a puppy home is an exciting and joyful experience. This guide will help you navigate the first few weeks and months with your new Frenchie, ensuring they grow up healthy, happy, and well-adjusted.

Before bringing your French Bulldog home, make sure you have the following:

• Crate: A cozy and safe space for your puppy to rest.
• Bedding: Soft, washable bedding for comfort.
• Food & Water Bowls: Preferably stainless steel or ceramic.
• Puppy Food: High-quality puppy food formulated for small breeds.
• Collar & Leash: Adjustable collar and a sturdy leash.
• Toys, Toys, Toys:  Chew toys, teething toys, and interactive toys. This is essential as the Frenchies have a motor in their mouth that can destroy a wall in 5 seconds. 
• Grooming Supplies: Puppy shampoo, nail clippers.  Plenty of microfiber cloths for ear and wrinkle cleaning!
• Puppy Pads: the reuseable pads will be cheaper than the disposables and truly, those pads are a nuisance.  For house training, they do best with the 3 or 4-layer turf patch.  See my DIY section for a cheap alternative to the prepackaged kits. 
• ID Tag: With your contact information. Do not let them out without a leash until you are confident in their ability to recall to you in danger.

• Introduce Gradually: Let your puppy explore their new environment at their own pace. Avoid overwhelming them with too many people or pets at once.
• Show Them Their Space: Introduce your Frenchie to their crate or bed, and make it a positive space with treats and toys.
• Establish a Routine: Puppies thrive on routine!!!!! Set up feeding, play, and potty times to help them adjust. 
• Find a potty location: Take them to the same place every time and repeat key words about "potty" , e.g., "time to go potty", "Do you need to poop"..."Go potty outside".  Although it seems goofy, I assure you they understand and will recognize the queue and make your potty adventure far more enjoyable.  

Puppy Nutrition

• Feed your Frenchie high-quality puppy food specifically formulated for small breeds. 
• Follow the feeding guidelines on the packaging, but adjust based on your puppy's appetite and growth.
  

Meal Schedule

• Start with 3-4 small meals a day, gradually reducing to 2 meals as they grow older.
• Hydration: Always provide fresh, clean water.

Avoid

• Overfeeding or free-feeding to prevent obesity.
• Giving human food, especially chocolate, onions, grapes, and other toxic foods.  Frenchies can be ultra sensitive.  

Puppy Pads

Start with puppy poty turfs near the door to encourage your Frenchie to relieve themselves in the right place.

Crate Training 

Use the crate as a tool to help with house training. Puppies naturally avoid soiling their sleeping area. When you let them out of the crate, carry them to the potty turf and say a consistent phrase every time, such as "Go potty, go poop".  They may not potty and as soon as you take them away they potty somewhere.  Do Not scold them.  They will be very confused and it will delay training as they will begin to try and hide from you and pee in all the wrong spots.  Simply take them back to the potty turf and say your phrase again.  

Positive Reinforcement

Praise and reward your puppy immediately after they potty in the correct spot. Treats go a long way and as soon as they pick up the behavior, you can stop the treats and move to treats for another big training step, "no biting".

Tips

• Stick to a schedule, taking your puppy out after eating, playing, and waking up.
• Stay consistent with the location.
• Be patient and consistent. Accidents will happen!

Notice a repeating theme:  Consistency!!!!

A tired puppy from play has no time to get in trouble!! 

If they get plenty of engaging play, they will be good boys and girls for you!!

• Daily Exercise: French Bulldogs need moderate exercise. Short walks and play sessions are ideal.
• Interactive Play: Engage in play with toys and games to stimulate your puppy's mind and prevent boredom.
• Avoid Overexertion: Frenchies are prone to overheating, so avoid excessive exercise, especially in hot weather.